Judging Dev was a multimedia project incorporating a ten-part radio documentary series, a book and an online exhibition. The aim of the project was to re-examine DeValera's important and sometime controversial legacy.
Radio
The radio series was presented by Diarmaid Ferriter and broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1. The ten programmes were broadcast in 2007, and can be downloaded here
Programme 1: 28th October 2007
Soldier, prisoner and survivor
Involvement in 1916, his status as the sole surviving commandant of the 1916 Rising, and his subsequent emergence as leader of Sinn Féin.
Programme 2: 4th November 2007
Revolution and the great absence
His role in the War of Independence, his controversial absence from the Treaty Negotiations and the slide to Civil War.
Programme 3: 11th November 2007
Comeback and Rise to Power
Formation of Fianna Fáil, taking power in 1932, dominance in the 1930s, conduct of Anglo-Irish relations and the 1937 Constitution.
Programme 4: 18th November 2007
International Statesman and Guardian of Neutrality
His view of Ireland's role in the world, the League of Nations, the real meaning of Irish neutrality
Programme 5: 25th November 2007
Elder Statesman, the fourth green field.
Failure to reunite Ireland, the bleak 1950s and emigration, his replacement by Sean Lemass
Programme 6: 2nd December 2007
Comely maidens and De Valera's Cultural vision.
His 'comely maidens' vision and attitude to women, The Irish Press, the Irish Language and attitude to sport, entertainment and RTÉ
Programme 7: 9th December 2007
Private lives and loves
The private correspondence, his prison and love letters, the devotion of his staff and his personal traits
Programme 8: 16th December 2007
The Contested Legacy (part 1)
Why was he the man so many could not forgive? Was he the barrier to modernisation or the champion of true independence?
Programme 9: 23rd December 2007
The Contested Legacy (part 2)
How did he want to be remembered? What did he leave out of his archive and has access to the archive changed our view of him.
Programme 10: 30th December 2007
Series Overview
Book
The book was written by Diarmaid Ferriter and published by the RIA in association with RTÉ. The book went on to score a hat trick at the 2008 Irish Book Awards- The Argosy Irish Non-Fiction Book of the Year; The Eason Irish-Published Book of the Year, and the Tubridy Show Listeners’ Choice Book of the Year. For further information, or to buy the book, please visit our shop (link to Dev page on shop)
Online
RTÉ Libraries and Archives website presented a selection of Eamon DeValera's broadcasts, together with a specially recorded audio introduction by historian and broadcaster Dr Diarmaid Ferriter. This online exhibition can be viewed here.
The RIA also produced a website to accompany the project at www.dev.ie
In conjunction with the Department of Education and Science, the Academy produced a series of class plans which accompanied the book. These class plans are available for download here